He attributed the success of the operation to what he called careful planning.

The team that laid ambush for the smugglers, he said, was led by Yusuf M. A. and other officers for almost 13 days.

Ejesieme gave kudos to the people of Gbaji, mostly the Baale of Gbaji Yeke, Chief Emmanuel Kunwakalu, for their support.

But a member of the Gbaji community, who spoke with The Nation under the condition of anonymity, alleged that majority of those who engaged in the rice smuggling are ex-security officers and a few serving ones that have arms and ammunition.

He said if not for the involvement of the military in the evacuation of the rice, the exercise, would have led to a battle between Customs and the smugglers.

“The people that are involved in the business are very deadly and they have wasted so many people that have threatened their business. This river goes to Ere, in Ado-Odo Ota Local Government Area of Ogun State. That was where the boats were going before they were intercepted by the Customs.” “That axis,” I was told, “is more difficult for Customs to penetrate than this area because of its terrain.”

He attributed the surge in rice smuggling to the high price of the commodity in the market.

The Baale said the number of youths that have taken to smuggling has increased because of unemployment and urged the government to address the problem.